1-54 is the first international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, founded by Touria El Glaoui (b. 1974). Annual editions have been held in London since 2013, New York since 2015 and Marrakech since 2018, offering a dynamic platform that is engaged in contemporary dialogue and exchange. The name of the fair references the 54 countries on the African continent.
El Glaoui (born in Morocco) started her career in the banking industry. Parallel to this, she co-curated a number of exhibitions with her father, the well-known figurative painter Hassan El Glaoui. 鈥淚 am the daughter of an artist 鈥 my home was surrounded by art, telling powerful stories about who we are as Africans, and our complex history,鈥 she notes.
聽In essence, the fair reflects this, considering how the narrative of Africa is being told, and who telling it. The 2020 edition 鈥 a hybrid model with both physical and digital components 鈥 welcomes 35 international exhibitors from across Europe, Africa and North America. It showcases more than 110 artists in-situ at Somerset House and online, with carefully curated selections that untangle problematic stereotypes. 鈥淥ur committee deliberates every application submitted. They question the gallery鈥檚 approach to 鈥楢frican aesthetics鈥 or other reductive notions,鈥 El Glaoui explains.
As such, intersectionality is a key focus of this year鈥檚 programme, as well as considerations of what it means to separate and define. 鈥淭he ties between Africa, Afro-Latin America and the Caribbean have never before been a focus of 1-54 Forum, but it is an incredibly important and dynamic area to explore. On 8 October, we鈥檙e presenting an online keynote by Aldeide Delgado (Founder and Director of Women Photographers International Archive) who discusses the implications and opportunities of the expression 鈥楲atinx.鈥欌
Whilst 2020 has been a monumental year 鈥 with global protests against social and racial injustice, the art world is still rife with misrepresentation and exclusivity, and 1-54 is keen to play its part: 鈥淒iscussions absolutely need to continue. We are dedicated to initiating and supporting on-going discourse relating to contemporary art from Africa and its global diaspora. Since the fair鈥檚 inception we have done this through 1-54 Forum 鈥 a public programme of talks and screenings which accompanies the exhibitions. This year, we鈥檝e curated a mixture of in-person and online events, organised by Yvette Mutumba and Julia Grosse (founding editors of Contemporary and (C&) Am茅rica Latina. The programme engages with Afro-Latin American, Caribbean and African perspectives.鈥
This year鈥檚 edition is sure to inspire, with vital exhibitions for a world waking up. As El Glaoui states: 鈥淪eeing a range of ethnicities is the only way we will see changes in the art industry, but also with the relationship between Africa and the western canon. There鈥檚 a lot of progress still yet to be made.鈥
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair runs 8-10 October at Somerset House, London, and online. For more information,
Credits:
1. Detail, Prince Gyasi, Crumple Zone.聽Photography (fuji crystal archive brillant). Edition of 10 + 4 AP. 46×61 cm. Courtesy of Prince Gyasi & Nil Gallery.
